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Monthly Archives: August 2015

Here are 10 idioms with the verb draw in English. For each idiom, study the definition and read the example sentences. Next, Take the quiz to check your knowledge of what you’ve learned and then find a friend and have a discussion using these idioms with draw. To learn more idioms, you can also use short stories providing idioms in context.

1. draw a blank = not know the answer

I’m afraid I’m drawing a blank. I just don’t know what to do.

Who is that person over there? I’m drawing a blank.

2. draw a line between something and something else = distinguish between two things

You should draw a line between your private life and work.

Some people have a hard time drawing a line between friends and family.

3. draw blood = cause someone to bleed

He drew blood during his last five boxing matches.

Don’t worry, I didn’t draw any blood!

4. draw interest = create interest, become popular

Any time a new movie comes out, you’ll see articles in magazines trying to draw interest to the movie.

His crazy comments drew interest during the presidential campaign.

5. draw someone out = ask questions in order to get someone to speak in detail about something

Make sure to ask her lots of questions. It’s hard to draw her out and she’ll try to keep everything secret.

If you keep asking questions, you can draw anyone out on almost any subject.

6. draw fire away from something = create a distraction so that people don’t pay attention to something else

I’d like you to go out and draw fire away from the institution. Do anything you can? We can’t have people looking into this matter too deeply.

Politicians don’t answer direct questions in order draw fire away from something that has gone wrong.

7. draw something to a close = begin finishing a process

Let’s draw this meeting to a close by reviewing decisions we’ve made.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to draw dinner to a close. I’ve got an early flight tomorrow.

8. draw something up = create a contract, proposal, report, etc.

Now that we’ve agreed. Let’s draw a contract up and get to work.

Could you draw up a proposal for next week’s meeting?

9. draw the line at something = to set the limit of tolerance

I’m afraid I draw the line at speaking poorly of my friends.

If you were in a difficult position, would you draw the line at breaking the law to resolve your situation?

10. draw to a close = end something

Thank you Mary. And with that, our presentation draws to a close. Thank you for coming this evening.

I’d like to draw the class to a close. Remember to do your homework for Monday.

Idioms with Draw Quiz

Use one of the 10 idioms with ‘eat’ to complete the blanks. Be careful to use the correct form of the verb ‘draw’. (draw, drawing, drew)

The new actor from South Africa is _________. I think she’ll be a huge success.

I’d like you to _________ a contract by the end of next week.

The politician _________ at the death penalty.

If you can _________ from my scandal, I’ll make sure you get all of my business for the next two years.

I don’t know answer. I’m _________.

I’d like to _________ the meeting _________.

Thank you all for coming.

Ask her as many questions as you can, so you can _________.

She’s a fox! I promise I didn’t _________ when I hit him!

Answers

drawing interest

draw up

drew the line at / draws the line at

draw fire away

drawing a blank

draw the meeting to a close

draw her out

draw blood

Discuss the following questions with a friend, class mate – or ask yourself!

What type of bad behavior do you draw the line at?

Have you ever had to draw the fire from some bad event? What happened?